Earlier this month, housing finance figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirmed that actions taken by regulators and banks to dampen investor demand for property are having a noticeable impact.

Non-bank lenders grab an opportunity as banks scale back loans

The Australian, 26 June 2017

A huge, regulatory-driven transformation of the property development market has opened up a significant opportunity for some conservatively managed non-bank lenders, which can now match the project muscle of a major bank.

Boyuan in $63m retirement villages deal

The Australian, 26 June 2017

ASX-listed Chinese property developer Boyuan Holdings has bought a collection of retirement villages and development sites in a $63 million deal as it builds out its portfolio in Australia.

Domain, Realestate.com.au Enter Home Loan Market

Which-50, 30 June 2017

Online property sites Domain and Realestate.com.au have both announced moves into the home financing market this week.

Currency & Financial

Is Childcare Australia’s Golden Investment Opportunity?

The Urban Developer, 27 June 2017

New government childcare rebates, coupled with a number of other well-timed market changes, have seen the Early Childhood Development and Care (ECDC) industry become an asset class to watch for astute investors.

Australian banks warn surprise taxes scaring away investors

Reuters, 26 June 2017

Surprise taxes levied on Australia's banking sector are frightening off potential foreign investors by creating a less stable business environment, two of the country's major banks warned.

Commercial yields could tighten further, AMP Capital says

The Australian, 01 July 2017

Despite a strong run-up in commercial property prices, yields could keep compressing, the boss of one of Australia’s largest wholesale property fund managers says.

Agriculture & Food

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart's company is confident it is only months away from winning Chinese Government approval to start exporting cattle to China.

Blackmores seeks new CEO as Christine Holgate heads to Australia Post

The Australian, 28 June 2017

Blackmores will be under pressure to name a new chief executive soon to take over the vitamin and health products company following yesterday’s announcement of the departure of CEO Christine Holgate.

Billionaires Andrew Forrest and Kerry Stokes enter honey business

ABC News, 01 July 2017

Billionaires Andrew Forrest and Kerry Stokes already have competing business interests in beef and resources, but now they are putting their money behind the humble bee and a growing international appreciation for the high quality of Australian honey.

Chinese gas billionaire Wang Yusuo has increased his influence at Adelaide oil and gas company Santos, securing a board position and striking a deal that could allow him to grow his stake in the company by helping fund new LNG investment or make a full takeover offer to trump an approach from another party.

Clean Energy Finance Corporation makes its first foray into mining

The Australian, 27 June 2017

The Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation has made its first mining investment, buying $US15 million of bonds to help fund the $234 million first stage of the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project being built by Perth’s Pilbara Minerals.

Rio Tinto shareholders back China bid for Australian coal assets

Financial Time, 29 June 2017

Rio Tinto shareholders have given their backing to the sale of the company’s Australian coal assets to China’s state-backed Yancoal for $2.69bn, spurning a bid by rival Glencore.

Investors could soon have exposure to the lucrative "daigou" trade, after the ASX gave the nod for an Australian-based business to hit the boards later this year.

China Domestic

Why Are China’s Old and Young At Each Other’s Throats?

Sixth Stone, 01 July 2017

Recently, more and more people in China have been decrying the supposed loss of morals among the elderly. This discussion originates from a short video showing a physical altercation between young basketball players and square-dancing old folks concerning who had the right to use court space in Luoyang, in central China’s Henan province.

China is cracking down on funny English translations

News.com.au, 27 June 2017

PUBLIC signs such as “Pee Park” and “deformed man toilet” may finally be a thing of the past as Chinese authorities crack down on poor translations known as “Chinglish”, which they believe is ruining the country’s reputation.